Howard Lappin ’61

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Howard Lappin is a product of southern California higher education, with a 1961 B.A. from UCLA and a masters from Cal State Northridge. He is currently pursuing his doctorate from USC.

Lappin has reinvested his education in the local community, as demonstrated by his extraordinary record of service at Bell High School, South Gate High School and as the former principal at Foshay Learning Center. As former vice president of Pueblo Nuevo Development, a non-profit community development corporation in the MacArthur Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, he worked to raise funds and develop new schools. Currently, he is the interim president and CEO of Los Angles County Alliance for Student Achievement.

Lappin has helped many children overcome tremendous educational challenges and obstacles in Southern Central Los Angeles. When Lappin became principal of Foshay, it was considered one of the most challenged schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. During his decade there, Foshay Learning Center became known as one of the premier schools in the nation, listed as one of “The 100 Best High Schools in the U.S.” by Newsweek. Every child learns – no excuses – and each students is challenged to meet high academic expectations and to aim for post secondary educational opportunities. Although for many years an employee of the school district, Lappin has always taken the position that he works for the children of the community.